BOULDER — Josh Tupou, Colorado’s starting defensive tackle who sprained his ankle against Oregon Saturday, will accompany the team to Arizona State but remains questionable for the 8 p.m. MDT game.

“He felt a lot better today,” MacIntyre said after Wednesday’s practice. “We’re taking him on the plane. We’re expecting him to hopefully play. That’ll be really a game-time decision, like you do in the NFL: Go on out there and see how they feel. He’s really made a lot of progress.”

The 6-foot-3, 305-pound sophomore has eight tackles. In his place are sophomore Justin Solis and junior Kirk Poston, who recently moved from defensive end. Both have played all four games.

“(Tupou) said, ‘Thank goodness I don’t weigh what I used to,'” MacIntyre said.

“It’s just been unfortunate that we’ve had to deal with this,” Colorado coach Jon Embree said Tuesday during his weekly media luncheon. “I’m one of those guys (that believes) it evens out at some point.

“It’s the nature of the game; it’s a violent game,” he added. “But it will even out. At some point, we’ll have the same starting lineup.”

For Thursday night’s ESPN game vs. Arizona State, injuries have left Colorado will be without its leading rusher (tailback Christian Powell, thigh bruise), top pass rusher (defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe, ankle sprain), a starting cornerback (Yuri Wright, concussion) and a starter at defensive tackle (Justin Solis, concussion).

Also out is Paul Vigo (foot), who is one of the top reserves at linebacker. Senior safety Ray Polk had hoped to play for the first time since suffering a severe high-ankle sprain in the season opener against Colorado State but is listed as “doubtful.”

Done for the year is freshman tailback Terrance Crowder, who suffered a torn ACL in practice on Oct. 3.

BOULDER — As Colorado’s Saturday afternoon season opener against Colorado State at Sports Authority Field at Mile High approaches, I’ll offer some top 5 lists, beginning with the top five CU true freshmen that will make an immediate impact.

Keep in mind, the media was kept out of practices, so these lists are developed after speaking to dozens of CU coaches and players during fall camp.

Colorado’s Top 5 true freshmen of influence:

1. Cornerback Kenneth Crawley — The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder from Washington D.C., didn’t come as highly regarded as Buffs teammate Yuri Wright, a national top-100 prospect. But Crawley, who was made some national top-300 lists, is the one who earned a starting job — at left corner. And it appears he will be CU’s top punt returner as well.

2. Safety Marques Mosley — A 6-1, 180-pounder from Upland, Calif., Mosley will return kickoffs for the Buffs and also is the top backup to senior Ray Polk at free safety. Coaches talk frequently about how Polk has mentored Mosley, and how quickly Mosley has caught on.

3. Defensive tackle Josh Tupou — At 6-3 and 325 pounds, the imposing Californian from Long Beach has the girth and natural strength that CU has been missing along the defensive interior. Will be in rotation for the two defensive tackle spots with senior Will Pericak (6-4, 285) and junior Nate Bonsu (6-1, 280). At 325, Tupou isn’t flabby, just big.

4. Wide receiver Gerald Thomas — Wednesday’s announcement that Paul Richardson (ACL surgery) will redshirt this season made it more imperative that Thomas (5-11, 175) make an immediate impact. CU has plenty of possession receivers, but Thomas, like Richardson, can be explosive in the open field. QB Jordan Webb raves about the skill set of Thomas, who played high school ball in the Dallas area but is originally from New Orleans.

5. Fullback Christian Powell — Like Tupou, Powell (6-foot, 235) arrived as a teenager that’s physically ready for major-college football. Powell, listed behind junior Alex Wood on the latest depth chart but sure to get snaps, will be counted upon to help open holes for tailback Tony Jones. But Powell can carry the ball and catch passes. It wouldn’t be a shock if CU shows Powell setting up along QB Jordan Webb in a one-back set on occasion.

BOULDER — Colorado signed nine high school defensive linemen in February and, from comments made by CU head coach Jon Embree, several may help the Buffs as true freshmen.

“I feel good about them,” Embree said recently when asked about the freshman linemen. “I feel good about what we’re building. Those guys show up. They know one way (with effort).”

Practices are closed to the public, including the media. But it sounds like freshman defensive tackle Josh Tupou (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) will be in the regular rotation, and perhaps be an instant starter. Tupou, from Buena Park (Calif.) High School in the Long Beach area, would supply the girth that has been missing in recent years.

Football recruiting analyst Adam Gorney, the West Coast-based evaluator for Rivals.com, has released his annual position-by-position rankings for the Pac-12’s recently signed classes.

Colorado fared well in many categories, especially at running back where the Buffs’ four-player haul was ranked by Gorney as best in the Pac-12.

Wrote Gorney: “After a 3-10 season in 2011, Colorado needs players that can make things happen all over the field, and the Buffaloes did a quality job of loading up at running back by signing four players. Three-star Davien Payne (5-11, 225, Perris, Calif., Citrus Hill) and Terrence Crowder (5-10, 210, Galen Park HS, Texas) are big, punishing backs, and Donta Abron (5-9, 190, Upland HS, Calif.) could be the sleeper in this class. Clay Norgard (6-1, 240, Highlands Ranch Mountain Vista) is expected to play fullback and he’s a tough, hard-nosed player.”

My take: Although Colorado signed just two 4-star players (cornerbacks Kenneth Crawley and Yuri Wright), recruiting analysts are impressed with the depth and talent of Jon Embree’s class, especially considering that the head coach and his staff had to sell the program while struggling through a 3-10 season. As for the conference, I like the fact that seven different schools led a position. That speaks well for the overall strength of the league — and its future.

The defensive line is a position of need for Colorado, so Buffs coach Jon Embree was “very excited” to get an oral commitment from John Stuart, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive end from Westlake (Calif.) Westlake Village High School.

Stuart picked CU from an offer list that included Washington State. He told Rivals.com that he informed Embree of his commitment Monday night during an home visit by Embree.

“It was funny to see (Embree’s) reaction but he was very excited,” Stuart told Rivals.com. “I wanted to commit to him in person.”

Stuart joined high school teammate Justin Solis, a 6-3, 287-pound defensive tackle, on Colorado’s commitment list. Stuart recorded seven sacks as a senior this fall, forcing three fumbles. He also played tight end.

Westlake Village High School is regarded as one of the top programs in California and will play Oaks Christian on Friday for a divisional championship.

Kensler joined The Denver Post in 1989 and has covered a variety of beats, including Colorado, Colorado State, golf, Olympics and the Denver Broncos. His brush with greatness: losing in a two-on-two pickup basketball game at Ohio State against two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.